Nadal wants Federer to get 14th Grand Slam title

Melbourne Jan 31 (IANS) World number one Rafael Nadal would like Roger Federer to win the 14th Grand Slam title of his career to match Pete Sampras’ record, although he hopes it will not be in Sunday’s Australian Open final.”I would personally like Federer to win 14,” Nadal said.

“I hope it will not be on Sunday, but he deserves it,” said Nadal who won an epic five-hour clash against Fernando Verdasco in the semi-final Friday.

However, the Spaniard said he does not think the possibility of making the record will affect Federer in the definitive Australian Open match.

“He is experienced enough. If he has won 13 Grand Slams I do not think he is going to get nervous about the 14th,” he warned.

“And my motivation is the same as if he had 10 or 11,” Nadal said.

He stressed that, for him, Federer - his predecessor as World number one - “is already the best in history”.

“In my opinion it is not just about Grand Slams, but also about many other things in which he has beaten everyone else,” Nadal said.

“If he wins 15 it will have been proved in figures, but for me there are many other things you have to take into account.”